Medicine disposal: take unwanted medicines to a pharmacy

Take unwanted or out of date medicines to a pharmacy. In England, every community pharmacy must accept unwanted medicines from households.

Never flush medicines down the toilet

The NHS says never to flush unwanted medicines down the toilet. Take them back to a pharmacy so they can be destroyed safely.

Keep them in their box or bottle if you can.

Needles and sharps need a council collection

Pharmacies do not have to take needles and other sharps. Councils arrange collection of clinical waste from homes, and some charge for it.

Inhalers go back to the pharmacy too

Take used and unwanted inhalers to your pharmacy with your other medicines.

Pharmacies are not on the map

Binmap does not show pharmacies on its map. Any community pharmacy in England will take your medicines back.

Guides for single items

• Unused medicines
• Inhalers
• Sharps and needles
• Clinical waste

Other places and schemes

• Disposal of paint, gas bottles, chemicals and vapes
• Return medicines to a pharmacy
• Recycle Now: inhalers

Last updated: 15 October 2026

Written by Binmap using guidance from GOV.UK.

Pages from the organisations involved